Cycling UK lodges formal complaint against Merseyrail eBbike ban

Cycling UK has lodged a formal complaint against Merseyrail’s eBike ban, which was announced in July.

The complaint is supported by Cycling UK’s Cyclists’ Defence Fund, which supports significant legal cases and complaints concerning cycling and cyclists.

Merseyrail previously announced that eBikes that are fully legal in the UK would no longer be permitted anywhere on its network, citing a safety review it had conducted. In addition to prohibiting eBikes on trains and at stations, eBikes cannot be left in cycle storage at stations across the network, which covers the Liverpool City Region and extends to parts of Cheshire and Lancashire.

In response to the ban, Cycling UK wrote to Merseyrail on 6 August, outlining concerns that the ban would affect people using eBikes as mobility aids. It stated that people with walking difficulties may rely on eBikes to get around independently, including attending hospital appointments, going to work and visiting family and friends.

The ban will force eBike riders to rely on taxis, adding an extra financial burden, according to Cycling UK.

In the letter, Cycling UK also asked to see the safety review, which Merseyrail referred to but has not published, to understand what evidence the train operator has for its fire safety concerns and to clarify whether there had been any consultation with the public or stakeholders.

However, Merseyrail cited safety considerations as the reason for the ban, providing no details on what those considerations were. It added that approved mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs would continue to be allowed on the network.

“People using eBikes as their mobility aid are by definition not using other mobility aids, so offering reassurances about mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs is a fundamental misunderstanding of the problem,” said Duncan Dollimore, Associate Director at Cycling UK. “Merseyrail’s response was deeply disappointing and showed they have failed to either adequately consider or understand the issue.”

“Merseyrail’s response was deeply disappointing and showed they have failed to either adequately consider or understand the issue,” Kay Inckle, Campaigns and Policy Manager at Wheels for Wellbeing, added. “A blanket ban does not address the safety issues caused by illegal and unsafe devices, but it does deter cycling, which is essential for sustainability and public health across the region, especially for Disabled people.”

Cycling UK added that action is needed from the government to tackle the fire safety risks posed by illegal and modified eBikes, including cracking down on the online sale of devices that pose such risks.